Community rallies behind ill man

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, December 2, 2003

Tennant's cancer was discovered recently after he thought he had been dehydrated. His wife later found him very sick in bed and took him to the hospital. It was there he learned he had a tumor.

Brain cancer medicine is not at the forefront of cancer research, said Tennant, who has had to give himself a crash course in the disease. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center specializes in every type of cancer except his.

When he saw doctors there, they told him he could expect to live for another seven to 10 months. He was not satisfied with that, so he went to the Brain Tumor Center at Duke University, where the prognosis sounded much better.

He said they see no reason why he should not live at least another five to seven years. That sounded much better to Tennant, who would like to see his 6-year-old son grow up.

But, while doctors have told him they've never seen someone as lucid as he is at this stage in his disease, he has had some complications. And because he's had a seizure, he is not allowed to have a driver's license and his wife has to take him where he needs to go. Fortunately, his wife, who is a teacher at Clarke Elementary, had just signed up for catastrophic insurance coverage, but Tennant has no disability benefits from his employer.

Tennant has been surprised to start receiving assistance from not just his friends, but other members of the community. He said the amount of support he's gotten has been overwhelming.

"I never knew I had this many friends," Tennant said. "People bring us meals. I just got a check today for $120 - and I don't even know who they are."

For Tennant it brings back memories of when his father had only a few months to live. Though everyone advised against it, Tennant took him in and cared for him during his final days. He said it was the right thing to do, no matter how difficult people said it would be.

"All of us have a duty to take care of those who are sick and ill," Tennant said.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, friends and community members are holding a fund raising event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Church, located at Airtex Blvd. and Interstate 45. They hope the northwest Houston community will turn out in strong numbers to help one of its own.

Anything at all would be helpful, including just volunteering to drive Tennant where he needs to go once in a while. For anyone who is unable to attend, donations of any size can still be sent to Tennant at 15215 Emberwood; Houston, TX 77070.